Weather Forecast

Our View: It's the meltdown to Spring

This winter’s extreme weather — though not entirely unprecedented — has set all of us back on our heels. It has created challenges that we haven’t had to face in many a year, if ever. And just like during tough economic times, everyone has their limits as to just how much they can take.

A water main in downtown Cloquet broke a few weeks ago, necessitating the water be shut off to a dozen or so disgruntled homeowners in the midst of bitter cold weather.

A county dump truck hit a power line, causing outages for many outraged people in the surrounding neighborhoods, once again during one of the most frigid spells of the winter.

Cloquet Police Chief Wade Lamirande reported last week in his Letter to the City that his officers have responded to several calls for weather-related issues lately.

“It seems that the local residents are very cranky over the placement of snow this time of year,” Lamirande reported. “Several neighborhood disturbances were mediated by officers. In addition, several vehicles were ticketed and towed as a result of the recent snow event.”

The many inches of fresh snow that fell over the weekend and on Monday, followed by Tuesday’s meltdown, didn’t do much to improve our collective attitudes, either. Satellite dishes buried in snow blotted out television reception right in the midst of the Olympics. Ice dams quickly became a real and present danger, roofs of area homes and businesses began to leak, and if you haven’t gotten someone to shovel the several feet of snow off your roof yet — well, good luck!

And if you haven’t already heard, there’s another winter weather warning for Thursday and Friday, with possibly up to eight inches of ice and blowing snow….

It would be tempting to simply throw in the towel right about now and cave in to all of the frustration, anger and hostile feelings. But that wouldn’t accomplish a thing. Now is when we need our friends and neighbors the most, to help us cope and see us through the next few weeks to spring.

If you’re tempted to yell at your neighbor for pushing snow over your property line, stop and think about that time last summer he lent you his lawnmower.

If you wake up one morning and your car’s been towed, remember the city has laws regarding winter parking —and you’re the one at fault.

If your roof starts leaking and you have to keep a gallon bucket in the middle of the living room, remember there are those who are without heat.

And instead of shaking your fist at the county plow driver who left a ridge across the end of your driveway, simply be grateful that the roads are open.

When it comes to winter weather, we’re all in this together, and we’ll get through this if cool heads prevail. We always do.